A dramatic video shows the moment a helicopter crashed in Huntington Beach, California, near a "Cars 'N Copters" event, injuring pilot Eric Nixon and four others.
The helicopter was nearing the ground when it suddenly started spinning out of control before crashing into a grove of palm trees. "Holy sh**. Oh, my God," someone says in the background of the video.
"Emergency crews are on scene following reports of a helicopter crash in Huntington Beach," Huntington Beach police wrote on Facebook.
"At approximately 2:00 p.m., Huntington Beach Police officers responded to reports of a helicopter going down in the beach parking lot between Twin Dolphins Drive and Beach Boulevard," police wrote.
"HBPD and HBFD personnel immediately arrived on scene and contained the area. Five people were transported to the hospital for treatment. The helicopter involved is associated with the Cars and Copters event scheduled for tomorrow. The FAA and NTSB have been notified, and the investigation remains ongoing."
The helicopter crashed along Pacific Coast Highway just after 2 p.m. on October 11 "near the Cars ‘N Copters on the Coast event site, in front of the Waterfront Beach Resort," according to KTLA.
Five people were hospitalized. The victims included three people on the street and two people in the helicopter, KTLA reported.
Jerry Miller confirmed to the Orange County Register that his son-in-law, Eric Nixon, was piloting the helicopter when it crashed.
“He’s in the hospital with some broken ribs, crushed vertebrae and several bruises,” Miller told the news site.
According to People, Nixon is a pilot who has "frequently performed daring stunts." Nixon's stunts in the past included "low-level sprints, sharp turns and risky maneuvers while in the air," People added.
"Truly hope that no one else got hurt. Hopefully the event isn’t canceled tomorrow due to this but it would be understandable if it was. Biggest thing is keeping people safe," Nixon Helicopters wrote on its Instagram page.
On September 23, the Cars 'N Copters event's Instagram page shared a joint video of a helicopter with Nixon Helicopters' page, writing, "There’s nothing quite like seeing the next helicopter in our lineup not only in the sky but up close! The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a single-engined attack helicopter developed and manufactured by the American rotorcraft manufacturer Bell Helicopter. A member of the prolific Huey family, the AH-1 is also referred to as the HueyCobra or Snake."